Bottom hole choke



i Oct. 12,@1937. J. YANCEY BOTTOM HOLE CHOKE Filed March 27, 1934Patented Oct. l2, 1937 Bo'r'roM HOLE cHoKE John R.. Yancey, lflloust'on,Tex., assigner to J. C.

Nicklas Application March 27, 1934, Serial No. 717,569

11 claims. i

. The invention relates to an improvement in chokes to control the ow,of uid, particularly of the type positioned in the pipes of a flowingwell in order to restrict the flow therefrom.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a combinationtubing and choke assembly wherein the choke assembly may be positioned,in and removed from the well tubing while the tubing remains inposition in the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable well chokewhich can be run into or removed from position inMthe tubing by asetting tool.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a replaceable bottom holechoke assembly so that accurategauging ofthe well can'be had byreplacing the choke without removing the tubing from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottom hole choke whichis readily replaceable and through which circulation may be hadin orderto wash the well.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bottom hole chokewhich may be operated to wash the well but which will move to closedposition to accomplish the choking action automatically when iiowing ofthe well is commenced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a replaceablebottom hole choke which may be latched in position in the well bottom.

It is also an object of the invention to position the choke in any ofthe ow lines or tubing at the-surface of the well because the choke Fig.1 is a central, vertical, sectional View showing the choke assemblylatched in position in the tubing with the parts arranged as they willbe during the flowing of the Well. V

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, sectional view of the choke being removedfrom the well with the tool used to remove the choke shown in'position.`

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the choke with the setting tool connectedthereto illustrating one manner in which the choke may be lowered intothe well. f a

Fig. 4- is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows.

As is well understood in the owing of wells to obtain oil and gasparticularly, it is desirable to choke down the production of the wellin order to comply with various statutes and in if desired.

(Cl. 16S- 2) order to control the escape of oil and gas from theformations;` It is the usual practice after the well'has been drilled tolower a tube of relatively small diameter into the well in order tofacilitate the removal of the fluid. Such a tub;`

ing is indicated at 2 in Fig. 1, and is formed by coupling sections ofpipe together until the lower end of the pipe has reached the elevationof production. 'f It is not uncommon for a strainer or illter to becarried vby the lower end of this tube, but in some instances thestrainer is carried by the "casing, The present invention is susceptiblefor use in either type of equipment and is shown as located in thetubing 2 intermediate the ends thereof;

The lower end 3 of the tubing may serve as a support for the strainer,or other construction. The device has been illustrated as embodying acoupling 4 u and a housing 5. These two parts serve as connectingmembers between the tubing portions 2 and 3 and the tubing will beassembled'with vthe coupling and the housing in position at the time itis lowered into the well.

The housing 5 is in the nature of a nipple which l is formed with a seat'I adjacent the lower end` to provide a stop for the choke assemblywhich i Heretofore considerable diiculty has been en# countered inchoking the flow of iluid from a well at the surface because of theenormous presthe choke assemblirv sure encountered and difficulty hasalso been had y with attempts to adjust the choke at the bottom of thewell due to the expansion and contraction of the materials and to theinaccuracy of adrjustment obtainable. With bottom hole chokes heretoforewhen the choke became worn and inaccurate it was then necessary to pullthe entire string of tubing in order toreplace the choke. With thepresent invention, however,l it is contemplated that the choke or chokeassembly 8 will be made up as a unitary device as best seen in Fig. 3,which could either be dropped into the tubing and settled by gravity bythe set up, or it could be lowered into the tubing bythe setting` Fig. 3shows the setting tool I0 as 'being equipped with a plurality ofexpansible fingers I I which are arranged to engage the inside surfacel2 I,of the choke assembly, it being understood that the choke assemblywill be passed on to the fingers II while the device is at the surface.The tool I can then be run into the well either on a string of rods orcable, and the choke passed into the housing 5 so that it will assume Aits proper position, such as shown in Fig. 1;

In order that the choke assembly will be retained in its proper positionin spite of the pres--y sure in the well bore, the latching fingers I5have been provided in the coupling 4. These latches are held in positionby screws as at I6 and are 4curved so that they project into the normalpassage in -the tubing. These lingers are inclined downwardly to providea shoulder I 1 and the contact end I8. When the choke assembly islowered into position it will engage the shoulder |1on the fingers andcause them to be spread apart so that the assembly can pass into thehousing 5. As soon, however, as the upper end 20 of the assembly passesthe contact ends I8, the latches will spring inwardly to hold it againstupward movement. An upward pull on the setting tool I 0 results in thewithdrawal of the tool from the assembly so that it is properlypositioned for operation.

When it is desired to remove the choke assembly a spear or othersuitable pulling'tool such as 2| can be lowered into the well bore toengage it. This tool 2| is shown as having an enlarged portion 22 whichengages the latches I5 to present them outwardly beyond the normalperiphery of the choke assembly 8. Projecting below the enlarged portion22 on the tool 2| is the spear or grapple 23 which is arranged to engagethe inside surface I2 of the choke assembly so that the assembly can beremoved. Any type of lreleasable spear can be used for this purpose.

The choke assembly per se is made up of the base 30 which has anenlarged chamber 3| therein. To the upper end of this base 30 is aconnection 32 which may serve as a support for the sealing members Sandwhich is surmounted by the cap 34 of the choke assembly. The choke ymember 35, by which restriction of the flow is obtained, is positionedin the chamber 3| and has a tapered upper end 36 thereon which isarranged to engage with a cooperating shoulder 31 on the lower end ofthe connection 33. Thus, these parts will be accurately iitted in ,orderto form a seat for the choke member during the choking operation.The`choke member 35 is shown in section in Fig. 4, and is made up of thebody portion 39 and the wings 40 thereon, so that a ow of fluid may behad around the outside of the choke member through the passages 4| whichare defined by the body and wings of the choke member and the chamber3|.

The wing 40 of the choke member extends below the body, as seen at 42 inFig. 1, and there is a pressure chamber 43 formed in the lower end ofthe body which is reduced to form the orifice 44.

The choke member is freely movable in the chamber 3| and has a limitedsliding movement in the chamber. Fig. 1 shows the choke member in upperposition where the choking action is performed, whereas Fig. 2 shows thechoke member in its lowermost position so that there may be a ow ofiluid around the choke member in either direction. This may be saidto bethe inoperative or non-choking position because the fluid around thechoke. In operation of the device the tubing may be positioned withoutthe choke4 assembly.r The assembly can then be lowered into the tubingeither with the setting tool I0, or it may be dropped into the tubing sothat it may fall by gravity. In either instance it will pass the latchesI5 and seat upon the shoulder 1. If it is then desired to wash the wellor circulate fluid therethrough, the pressure downwardly on the chokemember will cause it to move to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that aconsiderable volume of liquid may be pumped downwardly around the chokemember. When, however, the well is ready to produce, the pressurerelieved inside of the tubing 2 and the pressure in the well will thenforce the fluid upwardly through the tubing. When this pressure isexerted below the choke member in the pressure chamber 43 it will causeit to move upwardly from the position shown in Fig.- 2 to the positionshown in Fig. 1 where a full choking action is obtained, because theparts 36 and 31 will set to form a seal, except for the passage 44. Thegreater the pressure in the well, the greater will be the setting of thechoke member in position.

If, for any reason; however, the pressure in the well falls below thatrequired to hold the choke in position the choke will fall by gravityand the production of the well will be thus increased by the ow of fluidaround the member. When the pressure increases, however, the member willagain rise upwardly and choke the now in` the manner intended. If thechoke member becomes worn, or the amount of production from the well isto be changed, it is only necessary to go into the well with the tool 2|which moves the latches I5 to an inoperativeposition andI grasps thechoke assembly by means of the spear 23 so that the choke assembly canbe removed from the well. The choke member 35 can be replaced with amember of the proper size, or with a choke member which is true togauge. The choke assembly can then be lowered into the well aspreviously described, and a simple and economical operation of the wellobtained.

While the invention has been shown4 and described particularly as beingpositioned in the bottom of the well on the tubing the pipes 2 and 3 maybe any flow line pipes` The choke assemblymay be inserted and removedfrom such ow line pipes in exactly the same manner as describedregardless of whether the choke is in a vertical or horizontal position.

The invention broadly contemplates a replaceable choke member which canbe positioned and removed without molesting the tubing, and throughwhich the well may be washed or produced as desired.

I claim: f i,

1. A bottom hole choke forlwell tubing adapted to be lowered intoandremoved from the ,Well as an independent member including a chokeassembly, a choke member, cooperating means on the choke and the tubingto hold the choke in position, said choke member lbeing freely movablein i said assembly to choking or non-choking position, said meanscomprising a spring latch operable as the choke moves into position inthe tubing.

2. A bottom hole choke forwell tubing adapted to be lowered into andremoved from the well as an independent member including a chokeassembly, a choke member, cooperating means on the choke and the tubingto hold the choke in from the well will pass through said assembly, l

a choke member mounted in said assembly for` position including springfingers, said choke member being freely movable by gravity tonon-choking pbsition but adapted to be raised to choking position by theflow oi' fluid to be' choked.

3. In combination .with a well tubing, a well choke assembly adapted tobe lowered into' and removed from the tubing, and latching meansconsisting of spring fingers to automatically latch said choke assemblyin position, said choke assembly comprising a housing formed with arestricted lower end and a second restriction spaced upwardly from itslower end, and a choke member formed with an upwardly tapering passagemounted within saidhousing for sliding movement between the restrictedlower end thereof and said second restriction.

4. In a well. a tubing providing for flow of fluid from the well, ahollow choke assembly adapted to be lowered into said tubing to controlflow of fluid f therethrough from the well, and to be removed from saidtubing without removing the latter from the well, means carried on theouter wall of said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wallof the tubing, whereby flow of fluid from the well will pass throughsaidassembly, a choke member freely mounted in said assembly forrelative movement with respect thereto under relatively high wellpressure to position for restricting the area of flow of fluid throughsaid assembly from the well, and relatively movable with respect to saidassembly at relatively low well pressure to position for increased areaof ow of fluid through said assembly from the well, and means forlatching said assembly in flow controlling position in said tubing.

5. In a well, a tubing providing for flow of fluid from the well, ahollow choke assembly adapted to be lowered into said tubing to controlflow of huid therethrough from the well, and to be removed from saidtubing without removing the latter from the well, means carried on theouter wall of said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wallof the tubing, whereby flow of fluid from the well will pass throughsaid assembly, 'a choke member mounted in said assembly for relativemovement with respect thereto under relatively high well pressure toposition for restricting the area of flow of fluid throughsaid assemblyfrom the well, and relatively movable with respect to said assembly bygravity at relatively low well pressure to position for increased areaof flow of fluid through said assembly from the well, and meansforlatching said assembly in flow controlling position in said tubing.

6. In a well, a tubing providing for flow of fluid from the well, ahollow choke assembly adaptedto be lowered into said tubing to controlflow of fluid therethrough from the well, and to be removed from saidtubing without'removing the latter from the well, means carried on theouter wall of-said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wallof the tubing, whereby flow of fluid relative movement with respectthereto under relativelyhigh well pressure to position for restrictingthe area of flow of fluid through said assembly from the well, andrelatively movable with respect to said assembly by gravity atrelatively low well pressure to position for increased area of flow offluid through said assembly from the well, means for latching saidassembly in flow controlling position in said tubing, and means forreleasing said latching means and removing said assembly from saidtubing.

7. In a well, a tubing providing for flow of fluid from the well. ahollow choke assembly adapted to be lowered into said tubing to controlflow of fluid therethrough from the well. and to be removed from saidtubing without removing the latter from the well, means carried on theouter wall of said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wailof the tubing, whereby flow of fluid from the well will pass throughsaid assembly, a choke member freely mounted in said assembly forrelative movement with respect thereto under relatively high Wellpressure to position for restricting the area oi flow of uid throughsaid assembly from the well, and relatively movable with respect to saidassembly at relatively low well pressure to position for increased areaof flow of fluid through said assembly from the well, and means forlatching said assembly in flow controlling position in said tubingincluding springs which are depressed by said assembly moving into flowcontrolling position.

8. In a well, a tubing providing for ow of uid from the well, a chokeassembly seat in said tubin ing, a hollow choke assembly adapted to belowered into said tubing in engagement with said seat to control flow offluid through the tubing from the well, and to b'e removed from saidtubing without removing the latter from the well, means carried on theouter wall oi' said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wallof the tubing, whereby flow of' fluid from the well will pass throughsaid assembly. a choke member freely mounted in said assembly forrelative movement with respect thereto under relatively high wellpressure to position for restricting the area of flow of fluid throughsaid assembly from the well, and relatively movable with respect to saidassembly at relatively low well pressure to position for increased areaof flow of fluid through said assembly from the well, and means forlatching said assembly in flow controlling position in said tubing.

9. In a well, a tubing providing for flow of fluid from the well, ahollow choke assembly adapted to be dropped into said tubing to controlflow of fluid therethrough from the well, and tobe re-` moved from saidtubing without removing the latter from the well, a restricted area insaid tubing `to receive said assembly at flow controlling position,means carried on the outer wall of said assembly for sealing the sameagainst the inner wall of the restricted area of said tubing, wherebyflow of fluid from the well will pass through said assembly, a chokemember freely mounted in said assembly for relative movement withrespect thereto under relatively high pressure to position forrestricting the area of flow of fluid through said assembly from thewell and relatively movable with respect to said assembly at relativelylow well pressure to position for increased area of flow of uid throughsaid assembly from the well, and automatically operable means forlatching said assembly in flow controlling position vin 10.`In a well, atubing providing for ow of fluid from the well, a hollow hoke assemblyadapted to be dropped into said -tubing to control flow of fluidtherethrough from the well, and to be removed from said tubing withoutremoving the said tubing when said assembly is dropped therelatter fromthe well, ay restricted area in said tubposition. means carried on theouter wall of said assembly for sealing the same against the inner wallofthe restricted area of 'said tubing. whereby flow of iluid from thewell will pass through said assembly, a choke member freely mounted insaid assembly for relative movement with respect thereto underrelatively high pressure to position for restricting the area of i'lowot uid through said assembly from the well and relatively movable withrespect to said assembly at relatively low well pressure to position forincreased area of ilow of iluid through said assembly from the well,automatically operable means for latching said assembly in ilowcontrolling position in said tubing when said assembly is droppedtherein, and means for releasing said latching means and removing saidassembly from said tubing.

11. rn combination with a wen tubing. a wen choke assembly forcontrolling flow of fluid therethrough i'rom the well, said assemblybeing adapted to be lowered into and removed from the tubing, latchingmeans for automatically latching said choke assembly in ilow controllingposition 'in said tubing, said assembly comprising a hous-

